Parallel ruler



Patented Feb. 5, i924.

CHARLES E. JOHNSON, OIE RDGEFIELD PARK, NEW:T JERSEY, ASSIGNOB, T JOHNAYE- DON CORPORATON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

PARALLEL R'LER.

Application filed June 4, 1921. Serial No. 474,992.

l0 to provide a ruler mounted on a roller which can be easily and cheaply manufactured, but which will yet embody many novel features of use to an ordinary draftsn'ian or person desiring to draw parallel horizontal or vertical lines at any given distance apart. The invention consists of the novel devices hereinafter shown and described.

ln the drawings accompanying this specilication and which form a part hereo'll l have shown my improvement in its preferred term, although the same may be departed from in its various details without going beyond the scope of my invention.

- llelerring to the drawings, Fig. l is a plan view of the ruler showing its main essentials. ln Fig. 2, an end view ci the ruler and the roller is shown. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of one end of the ruler 0 showing in greater detail the indeX feature. Like numbers in the drawings refer ylo similar parts throughout.

ln my preferred form a single sheet of metal is stamped into a ruler denoted by 5 l. or the shape shown, the edge 2 of which marked off in inches or other units of measurement. The shape can more readily be seen from Fig. 2. The ruler is provided with a housing 3 with end portions 4. .lvhen it is assembled these are bent inward and indentations 5 Yform the bearings for tle shaft of the roller G. rlhe latter is held in place by these bearings but may rotate freely. lt is better to provide a solid roller throughout the length oi` the ruler as then the latte-r can be used on any size sheet. I also provide indentations 7 along the edge of the ruler which by keeping that edge slightly raised above the surface of the paper allow the use of pen and inlr without the danger o' blotting. lncisions 8 are stamped out of the face and'in the rear part of the ruler. A pen or pencil when inserted in the points of these incisions will draw straight vertical lineswhen the ruler is advanced or withdrawn with rotation or the roller. These cuts may be located at any convenient place, but l have found that the most suitable situation is to locate them as shown in the drawings in Fig. l, atB, 6 and 9 inches with spaces of el and inches between the points 9, 10 and l1. rl`he location of these cuts will depend upon the particular use to which the ruler is desired to be put.

At one end of my ruler l provide an indeX :feature shown` in detail in Fig. adapted to permit the draitsman to space his horizontal lines at any desired distance apart. Graduations lf2 are marked on the roller to indicate inch spacings or as de" sired. A out 13 with an index linger le is made in the housing above the markings just referred to. By watching the index the ruler can be withdrawn or advanced the desired distance. Thus parallel horizontal lines can be drawn at proper and equal distances. The rear end l5 of the ruler is turned upward as shown in Fig. 2 and may serve as a rest for a pen or pencil 16.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A combination ruler comprising a hous ing and a flat ruling edge both integral with said housing, and a'roller mounted in said housing, said ruler having incisions cut in the dat ruling edge adapted to control the drawing of lines perpendicular to said edge.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES E. JOHNSUN. 

